Critics' choice.

Classical music: The CUBE Contemporary Chamber Ensemble...

Classical music: The CUBE Contemporary Chamber Ensemble will perform a program of Chicago and world premieres by Canadian and American composers at 7 p.m. Monday at the Arts Club of Chicago, 201 E. Ontario St. Phone: 312-787-3997.

-- John von Rhein

Art: Twenty-two photographs of the Chicago River taken by Bob Thall during the last quarter-century will be on display from Friday through Sept. 19 at the City Gallery in the Water Tower, 806 N. Michigan Ave. Phone: 312-742-0808.

-- Alan G. Artner

Rock: Robert Forster and Grant McClennan founded one of the great unsung pop bands of the '80s, Australia's Go-Betweens. They haven't performed together in a decade, but they will be reunited Saturday at Double Door. Phone: 773-489-3160.

-- Greg Kot

Jazz: One of the highlights of the Jazz at Ravinia Festival, which opens on Thursday, should be a collaboration between singer Bobby McFerrin and the New Orleans band Astral Project, at 8 p.m. Friday. Phone: 847-433-8800.

-- Howard Reich

Theater: The enchanting committee of actresses known as the Sweat Girls are back in a show featuring filmed interviews with their mothers. "The Motherlode" opens Friday at Lifeline Theatre. Phone: 773-761-4477.

-- Sid Smith

TV: Yes, the awards themselves are beyond silly. But the chance to watch young celebrities come close to misbehaving publicly almost makes the "MTV Movie Awards" worth watching. The trashy fun starts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on MTV.